Signs & Symptoms of Stroke for Men
Suffering a stroke is a serious health risk that afflicts about 700,000 Americans every year. Though most survive, the ability to identify stroke symptoms early plays an important role in the overall effects of a stroke. The most common symptoms of stroke are identical in men and women, but there is some evidence to suggest gender can be a factor in which of the symptoms are more frequently exhibited. Weakness in the face or extremities, confusion, slurred speech and difficulty walking are the three most common signs and symptoms of stroke for men and women.
Identification
A stroke is oxygen deprivation to the brain and resulting damage that occurs due to blockage or bleeding. The brain itself consumes about 20 percent of the oxygen taken in through respiration. If the blood vessels in the head are unable to deliver oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood to the brain, serious damage, loss of brain function and even death can result if treatment is not administered quickly. The presence of stroke symptoms is an indication that at least temporary loss of brain function is already occurring.
Traditional Symptoms
According to the American Heart Association, there are five common, traditional symptoms of stroke. These symptoms are numbness or weakness in the face or an extremity (particularly on one side of the body), trouble speaking or confusion, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, dizziness or and severe headache. The sudden onset of any of these symptoms is itself an indication of a possible stroke in both men and women. The association does not distinguish between symptoms for men and women.
Prodromal Symptoms
Prodromal symptoms are those that occur at and indicate the onset of a disease or condition. For a stroke, prodromal symptoms occur more than 24 hours before serious symptoms signal acute stroke and lead to hospital admission. In at least one study (Resource 2), the most common prodromal symptoms in women and men were identical. They were weakness, difficulty in speaking and difficulty in walking. Only about one third of both men and women reported prodromal symptoms at all.
Acute Symptoms
In the same study, symptoms that occurred within the 24 hours of admission to the hospital were considered acute. Again, the most commonly reported acute symptoms were identical in women and men. Again, they were weakness, difficulty in speaking and difficulty in walking. A separate study (Reference 3) found that the frequency of two of these symptoms could be correlated with gender. Though facial weakness is the most common symptom in both men and women, it is reported somewhat more often in women; though difficulty walking is the third most common symptom in both men and women, it is reported somewhat more often in men.
Importance of Symptoms
Though risk factors for stroke can be identified in advance, an actual stroke is difficult to identify and diagnose until actual symptoms are present. At that point, every minute that elapses without emergency medical treatment can result in significant and lasting brain damage. Thus, recognizing the symptoms of stroke early can have a substantial effect on chance of survival and quality of life after a stroke.
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